Unit stand for ophthalmic instruments



June 6, 1950 E. A. FORSHEY ETAL UNIT STAND FOR OPHTHALMIC INSTRUMENTS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 26. 1947 INVENTOR. ELMOIZE A. FO/ESHEY P 8527A- COPELAND June 1950 I E. A. FORSHEY ETAL 2,510,624

'UNIT STAND FOR OPHTHALMIC INSTRUMENTS Filed March 26, 1947 2Sheets-Shet z 372 INV R ELMO/2E A. F0125 ROBERT A- COPEL ATTORNEPatented June 6, 1950 UNIT STAND FOR OPHTHALMIC INSTRUMENTS Elmore A.Forshey,

Southbridge,

Mass., and

Robert A. Copeland, Rochester, N. Y., assignors to American OpticalCompany, Southbridge, Mass., a voluntary association of MassachusettsApplication March 26, 1947, Serial No. 737,397

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in stands for diagnosticinstruments and relates particularly to a novel base for such stands.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a base foran instrument stand having a compartment embodying receptacles fordiagnostic instruments and embodying means for electrical connectionwith said instruments, means for controlling and determining the amountof electrical energy directed to said instruments, means for closing thecompartment and means associated with said closure means for energizingand de-energizing the means for directing the electrical energy to theinstruments at different positions of adjustment of the closure means.

Another object is to provide a novel arrangement for providing extensioncords for the means for supplying electrical energy to the instrumentswith means for taking up the slack of the extension cords when not inuse.

Another object is to provide a novel switch arrangement adapted to beoperated by the position of adjustment of the cover for the compartmentreferred to above.

Another object is to provide closure means for the compartment whichwill function as an instrument supporting shelf when in open position.

Another object is to provide a device of the above nature wherein thevarious parts are in compact relation with each other.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings and it is apparent that many changes may be made in the detailsof construction and arrangement of parts without departing from thespirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. We,therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exact details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts shown and described as thepreferred form only has been given by way of illustration.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the base of the instrument standembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a slightly enlarged sectional view taken as on line 2-2 ofFig. 1 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows and showingthe door in closed position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken as on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 andlooking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

4 is a sectional view taken as on line -4 2 of Fig. 3 and looking in thedirection indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken as on line 55 of Fig. 3 and looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken as on line 66 ofFig. 1 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 7 is a schematic view of the electrical circuit of the device.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters ofreference designate like parts throughout the various views, the deviceembodying the invention comprises a base 8 having a lower flangedportion 9, a hollow intermediate upright portion I0 and an angularlydisposed compartment Il adjacent the upper end thereof. The upper end ofthe upright portion ID has a vertical bore l2 therein having an inwardlydisposed shouldered portion l3 adjacent its lower end and a threadedportion l4 adjacent its upper end. Internally of the vertical bore [2and resting upon the shouldered portion I3 is a bearing I5 held in placeby means of a ring nut or the like It threadedly connected with thethreaded portion l4. Internally of the bearing [5 there is slidablysupported a bar-like shaft or standard I! of the conventional type andto which a plurality of brackets is connected for supporting variousinstruments not shown in the conventional manner. The standard I! isadapted to be raised or lowered to difierent adjusted positions by meansof a hydraulic or pneumatic lift l8 of the standard conventional typeop-' erated either through a hand or foot lever and release.

The compartment H which is formed integral with the intermediate uprightportion Ill, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, has a front wall portion orpanel l9 secured thereto by screws or the like 20. The panel is providedwith spaced openings 2| and 22 which have cylindrical or tubular members23 supported in alignment therewith by a bracket 24 carried by the pane1I9. The cylindrical or tubular members 23 have an inner closed member23' and are adapted to form receptacles in which instrumentscommercially known in the ophthalmic art such as retinoscopes andophthalmoscopes may be positioned. Such instruments embody aself-contained source of nected with the instrument. such instrumentsare used either independently of or in combination with otherinstruments carried by the main shaft. or standard l1. It isparticularly pointed out that the electrical or tubular member areangled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft or standard I!with the closed end thereof beingiinclined{downwardly so as to cause theinstruments to be seated innermost of the tubular members 23 under theaction of gravity, that is, by merely placing the instruments inter.-nally of the receptacles through the openings 2! and 22, they will slideinwardly thereof under the action of gravity to the innermost position.This angling of the tubular ;mcmbersr23 also enables the panel to bepositionedadjacentithevtop of the intermediate portion H3 and allows"the front of tne compartment to be formed-closer to the side wall ofthe upright andrenablesetheparte to be more compactly related byaffording sufficient length to the tubular members to --encase theentire instrument and yet enables the tubular memhersztozspantthethydraulicsor pneumatic liit without requiring such width as torender the inst uments as desired .andzto enableifreemanip lation ;of:the instruments throughout :a relatively wide :ran e.

'iBhe .spools 26 are :preferably :formed of nonmetallicmateriaksuchiastBakelite or other similar. insulation material and;are:each 'rotata'bly supported :by means of la rshaft -29 ehavins escnaredc d :30 fitted within a similarly shaped op nin 23%| :formed inthe adjacent side bracket 1 The sq ar deend 530 flocks the said shaft.29 againstrotation. llheishaft-zii has .a sleeve 2-32 r tatablvsupported @thereon, which sleeve :has :a IBQQSS Q flanged end :33thereon ,i-forming a "housu f3! {fora spiral spring r35, The spring =35is ecured adjacent dime end thereof to the inner shaft 29 b 'mea'ns ofarscrew or the like-135 and adjacent "the opposed end thereof :to theflangelike housing bymeans of za screw :orthelike 35!. -;'Iheflange-like housing .33 lies within a recess $8 in ;the adja-cent sideor the spool. The opposed :side =;of 17116510001 is also provided with arecess ,39 in which :a spiral .spring rill similar to the spiral spring35 is positioned. Thespring l -is sec'ured adjacent one end thereof tothe spool 26 by :means I of a :screw :or the ":like A I and is @securedat its opposite .end to the sleeve :32 bymeansrof a screw or "the like42. A disc 4.3 is adapted :to form a cover member for said spiral springAll and is provided with a central opening .44 [of a diameter greater.than1the diameter of :the sl ve :3

end plate 145 preferably of -non--metallic insulation materialais-secured to the adjacent end ofthe spcol 26 by means of screws or thelike 456. "I the outer surface of the end plat 45 there is secured ametallic disc 4] 'having a central opening 48 of a diameter considerablylarger than the diameter 0f the ,shaft '33, see Figs. .3 and 5. Thisisto provide suificient clearance to avoid electrical ontactof theshait 29with the disc 41. The said disc 1.4.! .connected to the spool 26 bymeans of a headed pin or the like 49 having electrical connection withthe end 50 of one of the wires of the cable 21. The adjacent sidebracket 25, as shown best in Figs. 3 and 4, has a bifurcated member 54secured thereto by pinsorthedikebZ. Theimember iii is provided withspaced resilient branches at having ends 55 in frictional engagementwith the side surface of the disc 45 forming an electrical contacttherewith. The branches 53 of the member 5! straddle the shaft =29 so asto avoid electrical contact therewith. The said bifurcated member Si isconnected through the pin 52 to one pole of a lsourceof electricalenergy through the lead wire .55.

The opposed side of the spool 26 is provided .withanend plate 56 ofnon-metallic insulation material similar to the end plate 35 which inturn hasza metallic disc 51 secured thereto by a pin 58. The pin 58forms an electrical connection with the-other iWiT "59 of the cable.it'l. :The :adiacentbraclcet v25 is provided with-ra bifurcated member50 having an electrical connection through pin$l-with the otherrlead.wire 62 connected with the main source "of electricalenergy; Thislatter bifurcated member has spaced branches formed of resilientmaterial and adapted to have "frictional electrical contact with the-plateifi'l in amanner similarto-the first mentioned plate 4-! andbifurcated member 5|, thereby directing electrical energy through thecord .21. Each-of thecords 21 has apl-ug .28 on the free sendthereofwhich may be attached to theeimmed-iate instrument to be used and whichis znormally supported in the casing 23.

The construction of the spool 29 is such as to enable a substantialamount of the cord to be drawn therefrom and functions in'the followingmanner:

W:hen .the'cord :is being drawn from the spool 26 the spring 40initially winds up to its fullest extent -.w h.ere upon .the spring 35connected with the bearing 32 throughhousing :33 and with the centralshaft 29 will be caused to be wound thereby permitting further rotationof thespool 26. When the'cable 2? is released .-the;spring 35 willinitially function to rewind the spool until the :Tfunction of :thespring 35 is spent and the spring All willthentake up the rear functionuntil the cord is drawn inwardly of the opening .in the plate l9 anamount suflicient to draw the plug .28 ,into intimate engagement with:the plate.

As shown particularly in Figs. 1, 3 and ;5, a braking device is provided'for retaining the spool .25 in any given adjusted position whichbraking device may .be manually manipulated to release the spool toenable the springs 48 and 35 to impart the desired rewinding of the cord2'1. This ibraking device comprises -a roller member 53 pivotallyconnected to a support 64 carried by a .barfifi. The bar 65 is slidablysupported in spaced bearing members 66 and 61 connected with theadjacent bracket by means of screws or the like $8. The bar .65 is.provided adjacent one end with aicoil spring 59positioned intermediatethe bearing member 66 and the support 64 and normally tends to urge theroller member .63 in a direction toward the peripheral ,edge 10 of thespool 26, as shown best in Figs. ,2 and 5. The

roller members 63 engages the upper surface H of plate 12 secured to thebases of the bracket '25 by :means of screws or the like 13 and has awedg- I ingaction between said surface I! and the peripheral edge Hi ofthe spool, thereby function-- ingaszbrake for locking the spool-inadjusted posltion, particularly when the cord is pulled in a directionoutwardly of the panel IS. The bar 65, adjacent the outer end thereof,is provided with a push button 14 which extends through an alignedopening in the panel IS an amount sufficient to be manually engaged bythe operator.

It is particularly pointed out that the roller 63 will permit the cord2'! to be relatively freely drawn from the spool 26. This is due to thefact that the said spool, when the cord 21 is being drawn therefrom willrotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 15 normally tend to urgethe brake roller 63 in a direction resisting the tension of the coilspring 69. When the pull on the cord 21 however is released the wedgingaction of the roller 63 between the surface H and periphery ll] of thespool under the tension of the spring 69 will immediately lock the spoolagainst countermovement and thereby retain it in any adjusted position.When it is desired to rewind the cord 21 on the spool all that isrequired is to apply manual pressure upon the push button 14 therebyreleasing the braking action of the roller 53 and allowing the spiralsprings 40 and 35 respectively to function to move the spool 26 in adirection for rewinding the cord 21.

To the front of the compartment H, there is pivotally connected a covermember 16 as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6. The pivotal connection is shownat 11 and is to the lower end of the panel 19. The said lower end of thepanel is provided with a recess !8 through which a latch member 19extends. The said latch member 19 is pivotally connected with the cover16 as illustrated at 80 and has an end portion 8| adapted to engage andlatch with the panel I9 adjacent the upper end of the recess 18 as shownat 82 when the cover 16 is in its lower most position as shown best inFig. 1. The member 19 therefore enables the cover member Hi to bepositioned in superimposed relation with the panel H! or to be openedoutwardly and retained in a subsequently horizontal position as shown inFig. 1. When in this latter position the cover member 16 functions as ashelf upon which the instruments may be rested when not in use.

When the cover is closed or in superimposed relation with the panel lathe member 19 functions as engagement means with a spring lever 83carried by a main switch 84 supported internally of the compartment II.

By reference to Fig. 7 wherein a schematic wiring diagram of the deviceis shown the main switch 8 is illustrated as being directly in theincoming circuit through the plug connection 85 with the main electricalsupply wires 86. The incoming circuit is connected to a transformer 81for reducing the main line voltage to the voltage required for theinstruments. This voltage may be varied in the circuits leading to therespective plugs 53 by means of the rheostats 89. The exact line voltageis determined by the voltmeter ell. Suitable jacks 9! are provided inthe plug circuits to provide electrical connection for other instrumentsas desired. A telltale light 93 is provided in the plug circuits.Adjacent the top of the upright I! there is supported a source ofillumination, not shown. This source of illumination is indicated at 94in the wiring diagram of Fig. 7 and is illustrated as having a plugconnection 95 with the main incoming source of electric energy. Asuitable switch 96 is provided for independent control of the source ofillumination 94 and there is also provided a rheostat 91 by means ofwhich the voltage supply may be varied.

By referring back to Fig. 6, and as shown by the dash lines, the member19 pivotally connected with the cover 16, when said cover is in closedposition, is adapted to engage and depress the spring lever 83 which inturn depresses the plunger 98 of said switch thereby opening the circuitto the transformer 8'! and disconnecting the main line electricalenergizer therefrom. When the cover is opened the resiliency of thelever 83 causes said lever to move outwardly, due to its tendency toreturn to its initial setting and thereby trips the switch 34 andautomatically energizes the circuit to the plugs and jacks.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that simple andeconomical means have been provided for accomplishing all of the objectsand advantages of the invention.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. An instrument stand of the character described comprising a hollowupright provided with a bearing adjacent its upper end in which aninstrument supporting shaft is mountable for slidable movement in thedirection of the vertical axis of upright and having control means formoving said shaft in the bearing, said hollow upright having asubstantially plane panel portion extending outwardly from one sidethereof adjacent the bearing, said panel portion being inclined atapproximately sixty degrees to the vertical axis of the upright and tointersect said axis substantially above the upper end of the upright,and having sidewalls extending inwardly to merge with the hollow uprightand form an enclosed compartment, said panel portion having openingsformed therein and supporting at least one cylindrical member inalignment with one of said openings, said cylindrical member beingdisposed in the compartment in substantially normal relation to thepanel portion with its sidewalls substantially coinciding with theperiphery of said opening and having a closed inner end, the dimensionsof said cylindrical member and aligned opening being such as to permitthe cylindrical member to receive and substantially encase conventionaltype electrically operated manual instruments, compartment having arotatable spool mounted therein about which an electrical cord is wound,said cord havin one end extending through an opening in the panelportion and adapted to be connected with said manual instrum nts, theopposed end of the cord. being connectable to a source of electricalenergy, and spring actuated means for rotating the spool to permit awinding and unwinding of the electrical cord.

2. An instrument stand of the character described comprising a hollowupright provided with a bearing adiacent its upper end in which aninstrument supporting shaft is mountable for slidahle movement in thedirection of the vertical axis of the upright and having control meansfor moving said shaft in the bearing, said hollow upright having asubstantially plane panel portion extending outwardly from one sidethereof adjacent the bearing, said panel portion being inclined atapproximately sixty degrees to the vertical axis of the upright and tointersect said axis substantially above the upper end of the upright,and having sidewalls extending inwardly to merge with the hollow uprightand form an enclosed compartment, said panel portion having openingsformed therein and supporting at least one cylindrical member arrangedwith one of said openings,v said cylindrical member being dish posed inthe compartment in substantially normal relation to the panel portionand having alclosed inner end, with the dimensions of said cylindrical;member and arranged opening being such as to permit. the cylindricalmember to receive and substantially encase conventional typeelectrically operated manual instruments, said compartment. having, arotatable spool mounted therein about which an electrical cord is wound,said cord having one end extending through an open-- ingin the panelportion and adapted to be connected with; said manual instruments, theopposed end of the cord being connectable to a source of electricalenergy, and a cover portion hingedly connected adjacent the lowerportion of the panel portion, said cover portion comprising a.substantially flat portion having inturned sidewalls and being shapedand of a size to substantially' completely cover the panel portionwheninclosed position, and stop means for maintaining said cover portionin a substantially horizontal plane as a tray when in open position.

3. Aninstrument stand of the character described comprising a hollowupright provided with a bearing adjacent its upper end in whichaninstrument supporting shaft is mountable for slid'able movement in thedirection of the vertical axis of the upright and having control meansfor moving said shaft in the bearing, said hollow upright having asubstantially plane panel portion: extending outwardly from one sidethereof adjacent the bearing, said panel portion being inclined tointersect the vertical axis of the upright substantially above the upperend of said upright, and having sidewalls extending inward- 1y to mergewith the walls of the hollow upright and. form an enclosed compartment,said panel portion having openings formed therein and supporting atleast one cylindrical member arranged with one of said openings, saidcylindrical member being disposed in the compartment in substantiallynormal relation to the panel portion and having a closed inner end, withthe dimensions of said cylinder member and arranged opening being suchas to permit the cylindrical member to receive and substantially encaseconventional type electrically operated manual instruments, saidcompartment having a rotatable spool mounted therein about which anelectrical cord is wound, said cord having one end extending throughanopening in the panel portion and adapted to be connected with saidmanual instruments, the opposed end. of the cord being connected to aswitch member having a lever for operating the switch member, saidswitch member being connectable to a source of electrical energy toprovide an electrical circuit to the cord, and a cover member hingedlyconnected to the lower part of the panel portion, said cover memherhaving a latch extending through an opening in said panel portion, saidlatch being adapted to engage the rear surface of the panel portion whenthe cover member is pivoted to a substantially horizontal plane so as tosupport the cover member as a tray in said position, and being adaptedto engage the lever on said switch member when the cover member is inclosedposi-tion so as to cause the switch member tobreak the electricalcircuit to said cord.

a. An instrument stand of the character described having its componentparts arranged in compact relation with each other, said standcomprising a hollow upright having a bearing portion in the top end wallthereof, with the major part of said bearing extending downward ly and:inwardly of the upright, an instrument supporting shaft mounted in saidbearing for rotatable and slidable movement in a directionIongitudinally of the bearing and having control means inwardlythereoffor moving said shaft in the bearing, said hollow upright having anenlarged compartment portion projecting outwardly from adjacent the topend wall thereof, said, compartment portion having a relatively narrowupper wall portion adjacent the top end wall of the upright lying in aplane substantially parallel with the plane of said top end wall of theupright, a bottom wall portion angled out.- wardly and upwardly withrespect to the adjaa cent side wall of the upright and having its sidewalls substantially flush with the side walls of the upright, saidcompartment having a substantially plane front wallportion inclineddownwardly and outwardly with respect to the top wall portion of saidcompartment and having a plurality of openings therein, and tubularmembers supported in said compartment portion and in alignment with saidopenings, said tubular members-extending inwardly substantially parallelwith the plane of the bottom wall of the com.- partment and lyingbetween said wall and inner end of the bearing in adjacent relationtherewith, and said tubular members having inner closed ends straddlingthe control means in said upright.

5. An instrument stand of the character described having its componentparts arranged in compact relation with each other, said standcomprising a hollow upright having a bearing portion in the top end wallthereof, with the major part of said bearing extending downwardly andinwardly of the upright, an instrument supporting shaft mounted in saidbearing for rotatable and slidable movement in a directionlongitudinally of the bearing and having control means inwardly thereoffor moving said shaft in the bearing, said hollow upright having anenlarged compartment portion projecting outward- 1y from adjacent thetop end wall thereof, said compartment. portion having a relativelynarrow upper wall portion adjacent the top end wall of the upright lyingin a plane substantially parallel with the plane of said top end wall ofthe upright, a bottom wall portion angled outwardly and upwardly withrespect to the adjacent side wall of the upright and having its sidewalls substantially flush with the side walls of the upright, saidcompartment having a front wall portion inclined downwardly andoutwardly with respect to the substantially plane top wall, portion ofsaid compartment and having a pair of spaced openings adjacent thebottom portion. thereof, and a tubular member supported in saidcompartment portion and in alignment with each of said openings, saidtubular members each extending inwardly substantially parallel with theplane of the bottom wall of the compartment and lying between said walland the inner end of the bearing in adjacent relation therewith, saidtubular members having inner closed ends straddling the control means insaid upright, and with the front, upper and side wall portions of thecompartment, the adjacent sides of the tubular members and bearingportion forming an open area therebetween, said front wall having anapertured portion communicating with said open area, and a rotatablespool mounted in said area, electrical cord means adapted to be woundabout said spool, having REFERENCES CITED The following references areor record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Pieper Jan; 9, 1917 Crane et a1.Jan. 30, 1917 Scheidt July 10, 1917 Russell Feb. 26, 1918 Pieper Apr.26, 1921 Pieper July 24, 1923 Hanberg July 22, 1924 Russell et a1. May12, 1925 Bunch Jan. 7, 1941 Pieper Oct. 28, 1941

